Author's Note:

This fic is set during the Blood and Circuits arc. Given that the mission was to break Tabby Brennan out of prison, I never understood why Oracle recruited Barda but not Mr. Miracle, who is, after all, the world's greatest escape artist and Barda's husband. This fic is my effort to explain. It refers to events in Justice League America 30 (this was during the JLI period).


"You can't be serious!" Scott shouted.

"Why not?" said Barda.

"How do you even know that this person is really Oracle? Anyone could send a message claiming to be Oracle. What makes you think you can trust a digitized voice at the other end of an untraceable transceiver?"

"Scott, you're being unreasonable. What makes you think it's not Oracle? And if it's not Oracle, shouldn't we go anyway to get to the bottom of who's impersonating the real Oracle? And even if you are right, and I am walking into a trap, that's all the more reason why you should be coming with me."

"I'm not going, and I seriously can't believe you are considering going either!"

"Scott, I'm right here. You don't need to shout. What is it that's bothering you so much about this? We're supposed to be breaking an innocent girl out of prison. It should be right up your alley. We could really use you. Why are you so upset?"

"Barda, honey, look, it's that she wants us to take orders from the Huntress."

"Well, I agree that that wouldn't be my first choice, but what's so terrible about that?"

"That woman is a damned child-killer, that's what so terrible!"

"That 'child' was about to kill me, as I recall."

"I know, honey, but he was possessed by your mega-rod. It wasn't his fault, and she didn't have to do it that way. She could have taken him out without killing him. She chose to go for a kill shot. She knew I was desperate to save that poor kid, and that it wasn't his fault. She just didn't care. And then she cracked a joke about it. She thought it was funny!"

"Look, sweetheart, I know how badly you wanted to save that boy, and it's one of the things I love about you. And I know that Huntress is at least a borderline sociopath. But she did save my life. I'll be careful. I know better than to just listen to whatever she says in the field. But I am going."

"Then promise me you'll be careful, and promise me you'll be as stubborn in the field with that—that woman as you're being with me."

"I promise."

"You know I'm only acting like this because I love you, right?"

"Of course I know. I love you too."

End.